Something's Gotta Give (Tempered Steel Book 3) (5 page)

“Oh, Peaches. We are going to have such fun.”

***

Later that evening, Georgia came out of the aptly named Down and Dirty bar, laughing softly at a joke one of the firemen gathered there, had told her.  She hadn’t wanted to bother Angel with the simple errand to deliver some posters. She was grateful Angel had taken over most of her committee duties, but this was easy enough to do herself. An instant later, she had the misfortune of bumping into someone she wished she’d never have to see again. The posters she was carrying to advertise the fall soccer tryouts scattered across the sidewalk.

“Watch where you’re going, Georgie Porgie!” Rochelle Wilkins snarled.

Georgia’s face immediately turned red as she bent down to retrieve the posters. “Sorry, Rochelle. I didn’t see you there,” she said apologetically. If Georgia was inclined to hate anyone, it would be Rochelle. Since the moment a young Georgia had entered the schoolyard, Rochelle had made it her life’s mission to give her grief.

“Gawd, are you going blind as well as getting fatter?” Rochelle snipped.

Georgia looked up from her task and pinned the hateful woman with an incredulous stare.  She had orange hair that was teased to within an inch of life, bright red lipstick, and was dressed in a tacky, nude Bodycon jumpsuit that left little to the imagination, Rochelle stared back at her with a satisfied smirk while her companion, Trudy, snickered.

“Good one, Rochelle,” Trudy quipped.

Georgia sighed. Yes, Trudy was there. Georgia didn’t think Trudy could function without Rochelle telling the homely brunette what to do. This evening, it looked like Rochelle had taken colored paints to Trudy’s face. The heavy handed makeup did nothing to alleviate the bland features of the sad, little woman. Georgia was positive Rochelle had made sure of it so as not to have any competition.

“Again, I’m sorry.” Georgia stood up to her full height, which was several inches taller than the petite redhead, even in her five inch heels. Georgia tried unobtrusively to leave, but Rochelle called to her.

“Hold up there, Georgie,” Rochelle sauntered over to her. “I know Chance has been spending his days helping you out because he feels he owes you something, but make no mistake about where he spends his nights.” She looked down at the trashy rings that adorned her fingers. “I don’t want you getting any ideas in that fat head of yours. Chance Coalson is mine. Everyone laughs at how you get all gooey eyed when he comes around, but make no mistake, when Chance settles for a mate, it’s going be someone a damn site better looking and better in bed than you.”

Georgia couldn’t help but blush as she remembered just how good Chance was at making her want him.

“Whatsa matter, Georgie? My plain speaking embarrass you? Or… Oh my God!” Rochelle trilled to her companion as Georgia got even redder. “Trudy, I do believe Georgie Porgie is a virgin!” She cackled and the hateful Trudy snorted again.  “Oh, that’s incredible. Wait until I tell the girls. This is priceless!” She grabbed Trudy’s hand and dragged her away.

The shame and embarrassment Georgia had endured in school at the hands of the mean girls washed over her once again.

              Georgie Porgie likes pudding and pie. Has no friends so all she does is cry….

              Georgie’s momma’s dead and gone. Her daddy left and now she’s all alone…

But the clincher had come Georgia’s junior year in high school. Rochelle’s homecoming queen speech had singled her out with a vengeance.

             
I want to thank all of you for electing me as your queen. My first order of business is to start a collection for Georgia Haines, so she doesn’t have to wear Missy Dee’s hand me down dresses for Prom next year.

The principal had made a grab for the mic, but the damage had been done. What Georgia and Missy Dee had painstakingly sewed from the latest McCall’s Designer Gown collection, had been torn apart and destroyed just as surely as if it had been stripped from her body. Folks weren’t affluent around here, but no one made a big deal of it, until now.

Georgia looked down at the posters she had gathered. What that horrible bitch didn’t understand was her mean tirade at Georgia had had the opposite effect. Monday morning, Angel Devereaux, the richest girl in the school, had sat next to Georgia at lunch. She had talked about anything and everything. By the end of the week, they were fast friends, and Georgia Haines was popular in a way Rochelle couldn’t begin to fathom.

Georgia started for her car, her heart no longer heavy with shame. She had friends, good friends, who helped her in her time of need. She wondered how Angel was faring with her plan to get Sam back by making him jealous. Sam was an idiot if he didn’t grab Angel with both hands. She was truly the loveliest person Georgia had ever met.

Yes, Georgia, surmised. She was truly blessed in her mind. She was popular in the most important way. She had true friends and a community of helpers.

Her mind flashed on Chance’s face. The desire she had seen there when he looked at her had been real. To her knowledge, a man couldn’t fake the erection she had felt against her bottom as he held her. Chance didn’t think she was fat. He thought she was luscious and lovely. Maybe Chance wanted more. Maybe, if she was brave enough, she could have a man to call her own.

CHAPTER FOUR

Georgia walked through the main floor of her house, absently picking up toys, checking the bookshelves, and thinking about Chance. It had been three weeks since she had sprained her ankle. It was completely healed and she had returned to a normal routine. But Chance continued to come every day. She knew he had work waiting for him at the construction site. The cleanup from the fire was taking a long time, especially since the Coalson men insisted on going over every bit of debris in case there was a hidden clue to the identity of the arsonist who had torched the company offices. Chance refused to leave her side. He said he didn’t want her to overdo and injure her ankle again, but they both knew it was a flimsy excuse at best.

              She knew that soon she would have to confront him about their relationship, but she didn’t want to break the fragile bond that existed between them now. She didn’t think she could survive without his kisses, every day, several times a day, he would grab her to him and kiss her senseless. And when he wasn’t kissing her, he looked at her with such longing, that she had to turn away or drag him to her bedroom in the middle of the day.

Caught somewhere between friends and lovers, she felt safe. But it would only be a matter of time before Chance would want to take it further. When they were alone, and he was bringing her to a mind-blowing orgasm with his hands, and his mouth, she sensed his frustration. But he wouldn’t let her touch him. He simply wanted to please
her
. It was as if he wanted her to know how intense they would be once they were together, by showing her heaven time and again, and yet denying her the ability to reciprocate the feeling of completeness. He didn’t want her body alone; he wanted her complete surrender.

But she was terrified to give in to him.

She paused by the window. Looking out, she saw Chance and the older kids huddled around a football. He was trying to explain the game, but from the puzzled looks on their faces, he wasn’t doing a very good job of it. He leaned over, hiked the ball to one of the other children, and took off running. The younger children followed him, screaming and laughing. With a jump and a twist, he caught the ball Caleb had thrown, then turned and ran over an imaginary touchdown line. The children continued after him, tackling him to the ground and trying ineffectually, to take the ball. His laughter could be heard through the open window.

Over the past few weeks, Chance had shown Georgia exactly how much he cared for her, not only with the stolen kisses and lovemaking, but with honest work. And patience. Lots and lots of patience.
Now the children worship him, Missy Dee adores him, and me? I don’t know what I feel for him.

Who am I kidding? I’ve been in love with him forever.

“He’s such a gentle man,” Georgia murmured to herself. “If he was the way his reputation painted him, it would have been easy to resist his charm. But he’s not. He’s passionate and sexy, but he’s also tender and caring. How can anyone help but fall under his spell?” Georgia shied away from that thought, too fearful of the consequences of surrendering to such a dynamic man.

“What is it honey?” Missy Dee came up behind her. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

Georgia turned away from the window with a sigh. In essence, she guessed she had seen a ghost. The ghost of her parents and their disastrous marriage hovered in the back of her mind whenever she thought about Chance. “My ankle’s almost healed, Missy Dee. There’s really no need for Chance to continue to help us. His brothers need him.”

“You need him more, Peaches. And that man would walk on water to be with you. Why are you so afraid? Because of what happened with your mother?” Missy Dee sat on the faded floral sofa and patted the seat beside her. “Come over here and sit down. I want to tell you what I remember about your mother and father.”

Taking Georgia’s hands in her wrinkled ones, she continued, “Your mother was a fine woman. There’s no doubt about that. She told me all about your father when the two of you came to live with me. She knew she was dying, Georgia. The doctors hadn’t given her much hope on that score. But she wanted to know you would be looked after when she was gone. As a social worker, she knew I took in foster children for the state. She came to see me, find out what she could, so she could provide a decent home in the country for you. I’ve got to tell you, when I saw you standing there so solemn and sweet, my heart went out to you. From that moment on, you became like my own child, and I told your mother I’d look after you like you were my own.”

“I know Missy Dee. I love you so much. You’ve done a fine job, too. I’ll always be grateful for all the love and help you have given me, not only when momma died, but now too.”

“Honey, I’m not so sure I did you a favor by keeping you with me after your mother passed on. Through the years with me in the foster care program, you’ve met some fathers who weren’t the most ideal parents for a child. I’m afraid they only reinforced the rather low opinion your mother instilled in you about men in general.” Missy Dee patted her hand.

“Your mother, God rest her soul, she told me your father was a handsome rogue. I can well believe it, because she said you were the spitting image of your father. She said he was all smiles and charm, just like Chance. He swept her off her feet and into marriage. She was only eighteen. He promised her the world, and she said he gave it to her in the form of you, baby girl. You were the sun and the moon and the stars to her, darling.”

Missy Dee’s voice lowered to a whisper as the sad memories came back. “But apparently, sugar, your father didn’t feel the same way. After the initial joy of becoming a daddy wore off, he didn’t much care for the idea of your mother growing big with you. And she was so sick with the pregnancy. His eyes began to wander. She knew. But she thought she could tempt him back again with a slimmer figure once you were born. But by then, honey, it was too late. Your father wanted to be free.”

Missy Dee frowned in anger. “Holding down a job with a young wife and baby was just too much responsibility for him to shoulder. One day, he just left. With hardly any money and a child to care for, you know your mom went to work at Social Services then tutored children in the apartment during the evening hours. You remember that?”

“I remember Missy Dee. She looked so tired and yet, when she saw me, she’d smile and suddenly, she wasn’t so tired anymore,” Georgia reflected. “I know all this, Missy Dee. It happened a long time ago.” And her momma was gone now. Georgia stifled a sad sigh.

“But it’s affecting you now, Peaches. And that’s why I’m talking about it.” She tucked a stray piece of Georgia’s strawberry blonde hair behind her ear. “You’re a beautiful, caring, young woman, Georgia. And you deserve someone who knows this and respects you and loves you because of who you are. But you are never going to find that special someone if you continue to hide away from the world, and from men in particular.”

“I’m not hiding, Missy Dee. I’m just cautious. I think I have a right to be. Chance’s reputation--”

Missy Dee interrupted her. “Now just a minute, Georgia. I’ve been around that man for over three weeks now, and I’m inclined to believe that his reputation was embellished upon by a bunch of old, scraggly women who knew he wouldn’t look twice at them because of their black hearts.”

“He feels indebted to me, Missy Dee, because of the fire,” Georgia complained. “He’s not really wanting me.” She knew that was a lie, but she was feeling cornered.

Missy Dee pulled Georgia off the sofa and pushed her to the window. “Now don’t you be lying to me child. You’re afraid of what you feel for him. But you look out there. You tell me, young lady, if that looks to you like the kind of man who would love you, then leave you to raise his children on your own? He is not like your father, Georgia.”

Georgia felt tears form as she looked out the window. Chance sat under the apple tree, one child on his lap, two others snuggled on each side of him, and the rest in a circle around him, listening intently as he regaled them with a story.

“Does that man, in any way, resemble your father?” Missy Dee asked, then walked out of the room to leave Georgia with her thoughts.

As if he sensed her presence, Chance looked up to the window. He raised his right hand, and blew her a kiss. Georgia shivered. Did he resemble her father? Her mother had said her father had been a handsome rogue. Her mother had been taken in by charm and a vibrant personality, blind to her father’s true nature. Was this what was happening to her? Was Chance weaving his magic, luring her to him simply because she was the one woman who would spurn his advances in the past and he saw the opportunity to make her pay for it?

No, she couldn’t believe he’d be that mean. It wasn’t in his nature. Still, every reputation had to have a basis of fact. He never denied that he had been with lots of women. And even more were willing to be with him if he would give them the opportunity. How could she compete with those women?

What it all boiled down to was could she take this chance on love? If not, she needed to break it off as soon as possible, before it was too late. Georgia turned from the window with a heavy heart. She had a feeling it was already too late.

***

On Friday evening, Georgia called Chance into her tiny office off of the kitchen. He closed the door quietly, then swiftly took her in his arms. “Free at last, Peaches. Kiss me woman, I’m starved for you.” He tried to reach her lips, but she evaded him with a frown.

“Chance, please, we have to talk.” She struggled in his arms, pushing against his chest until he reluctantly let her go.

She looked into his questioning eyes and felt a sadness steal over her. She would miss him so much. Chance’s smile quickly vanished. He reached up and cupped her neck, bringing her closer to his chest and laying her head on his shoulder. “Georgia, honey. What is it?”

His softly worded query quelled the statement forming on her lips. She had fully intended to tell him their time together was at an end. He couldn’t go on feeling indebted to her and she couldn’t stand being near him and not knowing how it would be to make love with him.

But she just couldn’t do it.

With a small sigh, she snuggled closer to his warmth.
Just this one more time,
she promised herself.
Then I’ll let him go.

She answered evasively. “Nothing. Everything. I don’t know.”

Chance hugged her a little tighter. She could feel his smile. “I see. Friday night blues. Well, you’re in luck, Peaches. Dr. Chance has a cure for what ails you.” He led her over to the small loveseat and sat down with her on his lap. When she immediately tried to scramble off, he held her down firmly with his arm across her midsection and began nibbling her ear.

“Chance, be serious. Stop that.” She swatted at the hand making lazy circles on her midsection, climbing closer and closer to her breasts. Even to her ears, the plea sounded halfhearted at best.

“Why? All the kids are gone and Missy Dee went into town to play bingo at the church hall. We’re all alone,” he whispered seductively as he drew her hair away, nibbling on her neck.

His breath sent shivers of desire down Georgia’s spine as he traced a path of kisses along her collarbone. Surrendering for the moment, she wound her arms around his neck, ruffling his black hair. She pressed herself against him. He kissed her, his mouth slanting over hers, again and again. Part of her brain vaguely recalled that she had made the decision to stop doing this with Chance. But her body now controlled her mind, and she found herself rejoicing that she was once again in his arms. This time, there would be no reason to stop their love play.

Chance’s hands were lightly massaging her breasts through her faded cotton shirt, his very touch igniting a fire she didn’t try to extinguish, while his kisses branded her as his woman, if only for the night. His tongue invaded her mouth to mate with hers, reenacting the intimate act of love.

Chance was driving her to the brink of sexual insanity.
Would it be so bad just to give in? Just for one night?
If only she could have just one night of making love with Chance, just one fabulous night to always remember, to hold dear to her heart and keep close in her memories, forever. She knew she’d never find this kind of rapture with another man
,
so why not take advantage of the special time they had together?
Her body caught fire, as her mind let go of her worries and inhibitions. There was only tonight and this wonderful man. The man she loved. She’d worry about the consequences tomorrow. With a sigh of surrender, she reached down to caress him through his shirt.

“Georgia?” Chance felt the change in her body. She was soft and willing. “I want you to want this freely and willingly. No regrets and no recriminations. Only then, can I show you how wonderful making love can be.”

Georgia looked up into his questioning eyes, and nodded quickly, afraid she would lose her nerve if she voiced her acceptance out loud. Instead, she scooted off his lap and took his hand.

She led him up the stairs to her bedroom. Once there, she wasn’t sure what to do, so she concentrated on turning on the bedside lamp. She felt totally awkward. She plumped the pillows and rearranged the covers. She could feel Chance staring at her, but he never said a word.
What exactly is normal protocol inviting a man to bed?
Georgia’s mouth felt dry, her palms sweaty. Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea at all.